Process for extending and exercising one&#39;s back

ABSTRACT

A process for extending and stretching using a rocking back stretcher permitting a desired stretch. The process involves the following steps. First is lying on a cushion connected to a seat plate. The seat plate is connected to a right corner brace and a left corner brace. The right corner brace is connected to a right leg. The left corner brace is connected to a left leg. The right leg and the left leg are connected to a front cross bar and a rear cross bar. Next is rocking forward until the desired stretch is achieved or the front cross bar makes contact with ground or rocking backward until the desired stretch is achieved or the rear cross bar makes contact with the ground. After that is holding the desired stretch once it is achieved.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to provisional patent application U.S.Ser. No. 61/701,796 filed on Sep. 17, 2012, the entire contents of whichis herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

The embodiments herein relate generally to exercise equipment.

Prior to embodiments of the disclosed process, there were no backstretching devices presently on the market which are capable of allowingthe user to make full use of one's own body weight and gravity toachieve doctor recommended, fully arched upper body stretches, with theadded rocking capability. Further there was no device that furtherpermitted a user to sit in a way that promotes much better posture and,therefore, less back pain. Additionally, no product presently availablethat specifically addresses the need for better circulation in the lowerextremities while sitting. The prior art includes U.S. Design Pat.D373425 issued to Palmisano.

Palmisano had a good general idea which failed in the details. The crosssupports in Palmisano were insufficient to support the weight of a heavyuser. This is probably because obesity was not much of a designconsideration in 1990, but it is prevalent today. Embodiments of thepresent invention use reinforced screw sockets to provide additionalstrength. Palmisano was not concerned with the device slipping.Embodiments of the present invention solve this problem with a frictionincreasing liner. Finally, Palmisano chose a cushion of an inadequategeometry when the device is used as both a chair and as a backstretching device.

Arched stretching, especially in a controlled way, has been accepted byspine surgeons as superior to linear stretching and over unstablebalance balls. We have done the research to substantiate these claims.For example, linear stretching, such as with an inversion table, is notrecommended by orthopedists for post-surgery spine therapy, whereasarched stretches are commonly recommended. Balance balls are toostrenuous for many people who suffer from back pain, and they areinherently dangerous, especially for older individuals or for those withbalance issues or weak muscles.

SUMMARY

A process for extending and stretching using a rocking back stretcherpermitting a desired stretch. The process involves the following steps.First is lying on a cushion connected to a seat plate. The seat plate isconnected to a right corner brace and a left corner brace. The rightcorner brace is connected to a right leg. The left corner brace isconnected to a left leg. The right leg and the left leg are connected toa front cross bar and a rear cross bar. Next is rocking forward untilthe desired stretch is achieved or the front cross bar makes contactwith ground or rocking backward until the desired stretch is achieved orthe rear cross bar makes contact with the ground. After that is holdingthe desired stretch once it is achieved.

In some embodiments, the right leg and the left leg are connected to thefront cross bar and the rear cross bar with threaded cylinders toaccommodate more weight. The cushion comprises medium density foam,polyester batting and an anti-bacterial vinyl cover to provide comfort.The cushion is larger than the seat plate.

A rocking back stretcher is configured to permit a desired stretch. Therocking back stretcher comprises a cushion connected to a seat plate.The cushion is larger than the seat plate. A right corner brace and aleft corner brace connected to the cushion. A right leg is connected tothe right corner brace wherein the right leg has an oval shape. A leftleg is connected to the left corner brace wherein the right leg has theoval shape. A front cross bar is connected to the right leg and the leftleg. The front cross bar limits rotational movement of the left leg andthe right leg forward. A rear cross bar is connected to the right legand the left leg. The rear cross bar limits rotational movement of theleft leg and the right leg rearward. Rocking forward or reward ends inthe desired stretch.

In some embodiments, a right anti-skid strip is attached to the rightleg to limit skidding. A left anti-skid strip is attached to the rightleg to limit skidding. The front cross bar and the rear cross bar areconnected to the right leg and the left leg with threaded cylinders tohold greater weight.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The detailed description of some embodiments of the invention is madebelow with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein like numeralsrepresent corresponding parts of the figures.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention shown inuse.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a top view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the threaded cylinder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

By way of example, and referring to FIG. 1, user 18 desires to exerciseone's back or to sit on the same object. Rocking back stretcher 10 canbe used to accomplish this. Rocking back stretcher 10 comprises rightleg 20. Right leg 20 is mechanically coupled to front cross bar 14 withcross bar screws 30. Similarly, right leg 20 is mechanically coupled torear cross bar 14 with cross bar screws 30. Front cross bar 14 limitsrotational movement of the leg 20 and the right leg 20 forward.

Turning to FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, front cross bar 14 and rear crossbar 14 are connected to left leg 20 with cross bar screws 30. Frontcross bar 14 limits rotational movement of left leg 20 and the right leg20 forward. Rear cross bar 14 limits rotational movement of left leg 20and the right leg 20 rearward. A portion of right leg 20 is covered byright anti-skid strip 16. A portion of left leg 20 is covered by leftanti-skid strip 16.

In some embodiments, right leg 20 and left leg 20 have an oval shape.Right leg 20 and left leg 20 can be made from cabinet grade birchplywood. Likewise, rear cross bar 14 and front cross bar 14 can be madefrom cabinet grade birch plywood. In other embodiments, the wood partsof this device could potentially be made of materials other than wood,such as injection molded plastic, aluminum, and others.

In some embodiments, right anti-skid strip 16 and left anti-skid strip16 can be made from rubber or any other material that can reduce theability of right leg 20 and left leg 20 to roll. Right anti-skid strip16 and left anti-skid strip 16 can be attached with an adhesive such asglue.

Turning to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, right leg 20 is mechanically coupled toright corner brace 28 with fasteners 22 and threaded t-nuts 24.Likewise, left leg 20 is mechanically coupled to left corner brace 28with fasteners 22 and threaded t-nuts 24. Seat plate 26 is mechanicallycoupled to right corner brace 28 and left corner brace 28 with fasteners22. Cushion 12 is connected to seat plate 26. In an improvement overPalmisano, cushion 12 is wider than seat plate 26 which accommodates awider user 18. Further, in some embodiments, cushion 12 is substantiallywider than the distance between right leg 20 and left leg 20 providinggreater comfort to a user sitting or lying on the surface depicted inPalmisano.

In some embodiments, seat plate 26 is a curved top consisting of ¼ inchplywood bender board. In some embodiments, cushion 12 comprises mediumdensity foam, polyester batting and an anti-bacterial vinyl cover toprovide comfort. In other embodiments, cushion 12 can utilize a leathercover. In some embodiments, the height of the highest point on cushion12 to ground is twenty inches enabling a user to use rocking backstretcher 10 as a chair.

Turning to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, in some embodiments, front cross bar 14and rear cross bar 14 are perforated with threaded cavities. Thethreaded cavities can accommodate threaded cylinder 32. Threadedcylinder 32 comprises an inner surface covered with metal threads 34 andan outer surface comprising wood threads 34. A user can then insertcross bar screws 30 into threaded cylinder 32.

In some embodiments, threaded cylinder 32 is made of metal and cross barscrews 30 are metal screws. Threaded cylinders 32 provide a structurefor holding more weight.

Returning to FIG. 1, to use rocking back stretcher 10, user 18 lies oncushion such that the user's back is against cushion 12. The user's legscan either be extended outward or bent at the knee (as shown) dependingon the exercise. User 18 can rock back until rear cross bar 14 contactsthe ground or until a desired stretch position is reached. Subsequently,user 18 can rock forward until front cross bar 14 contacts the ground oruntil a desired stretch position is reached. This process can continueas desired.

As a stretching device, user 18 can lay on cushion 12 top in a number ofdifferent ways to achieve a desired stretch. The height of rocking backstretcher 10, combined with the rocking ability, makes it much easier toachieve the desired results. Because the stretches are accomplished byplacing the body in relaxed positions rather than using muscle exertion,the stretches are more complete and not strenuous. The rocking motionenables the user to focus the stretches to specific areas of the upperbody.

Persons of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that numerous designconfigurations may be possible to enjoy the functional benefits of theinventive systems. Thus, given the wide variety of configurations andarrangements of embodiments of the present invention the scope of theinvention is reflected by the breadth of the claims below rather thannarrowed by the embodiments described above.

What is claimed is:
 1. A process for extending and stretching using arocking back stretcher permitting a desired stretch; the processcomprising: lying on a cushion; wherein the cushion is connected to aseat plate; the seat plate is connected to a right corner brace and aleft corner brace; the right corner brace is connected to a right leg;the left corner brace is connected to a left leg; the right leg and theleft leg are connected to a front cross bar and a rear cross bar;rocking forward until the desired stretch is achieved or the front crossbar makes contact with ground or rocking backward until the desiredstretch is achieved or the rear cross bar makes contact with the ground;and holding the desired stretch once it is achieved.
 2. The process ofclaim 1, wherein the right leg and the left leg are connected to thefront cross bar and the rear cross bar with threaded cylinders toaccommodate more weight.
 3. The process of claim 1, wherein the cushioncomprises medium density foam, polyester batting and an anti-bacterialvinyl cover to provide comfort.
 4. The process of claim 1, wherein thecushion is larger than the seat plate.
 5. A rocking back stretcherconfigured to permit a desired stretch; the rocking back stretchercomprising: a cushion connected to a seat plate; wherein the cushion islarger than the seat plate; a right corner brace and a left corner braceconnected to the cushion; a right leg connected to the right cornerbrace wherein the right leg has an oval shape; a left leg connected tothe left corner brace wherein the right leg has the oval shape; a frontcross bar connected to the right leg and the left leg; wherein the frontcross bar limits rotational movement of the left leg and the right legforward; a rear cross bar connected to the right leg and the left leg;wherein the rear cross bar limits rotational movement of the left legand the right leg rearward; wherein rocking forward or reward ends inthe desired stretch.
 6. The rocking back stretcher of claim 5, furthercomprising: a right anti-skid strip attached to the right leg to limitskidding; and a left anti-skid strip attached to the left leg to limitskidding.
 7. The rocking back stretcher of claim 5, wherein the frontcross bar and the rear cross bar are connected to the right leg and theleft leg with threaded cylinders to hold greater weight.